All About Auction Chant

Nov 8, 2017

Auctions can be exciting to attend, with the anticipation of who will be the highest bidder and the auctioneer talking a mile a minute. But have you ever wondered why they talk so fast? There’s more to it than you might think!

Tradition

Known as “the chant,” auctioneers’ fast-talking styles date back to the 1920s. The chant consists of filler words between bids to keep the rhythm going. Although the chant is done at a high-speed, clarity is also important. Every decade since, auctioneers have considered the chant to be the right way to make a bid call.

Quicker sales

Because of the rapid speed of the chant, items sell quicker. Speaking at a normal pace could cause the auction to go for twice as long while still selling the same amount of items. The fast pace doesn’t give buyers much time to think about their decision, which can result in more buys.

Entertainment

People are always fascinated by auctioneers’ ability to talk fast. Their quick speech naturally creates excitement and anticipation, which draws bigger crowds and more potential buyers. It’s also much different from the speech styles we’re used to hearing on a daily basis, making it even more interesting.

If you’re looking for an auction company with the best auctioneers around, contact us at Smith & Co. Auction & Realty, Inc.! We’ve been in business for over 20 years selling everything from farm machinery to 3100-acre ranches, and we are Northwest Oklahoma’s choice for all of your land auctions and real estate needs.